# NTSB LAX99LA109: Cessna 172P, N99269, Death Valley, CA, February 26, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 1999, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Death Valley, CA - Coordinates: 36.600936, -116.830543 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6009&lon=-116.8305&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45876 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45876/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA109 ## Probable cause The pilot's use of an excessive approach reference speed and his misjudged distance/speed relationship to the runway, which resulted in a landing overrun. The pilot's failure to execute a timely go-around was also causal. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - object - fence post - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The pilot overflew the runway to check the windsock and runway and saw what appeared to be an overrun area at the departure end of the runway. He reported that the landing flare was long and the aircraft seemed to float down the runway and was more than half way down the runway before initial touchdown. The pilot stated that lack of visual references and his belief that there was an overrun area led him to accept the excessive float during the landing. After touchdown he noted that there was not enough runway left to attempt a go-around. He applied brakes, but was unable to stop the aircraft before it struck plastic posts at the end of the runway and continued into an area of soft dirt, where the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that the weather conditions were clear sky, calm winds, and an approximate temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and no mechanical anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 1999, at 1300 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172P, N99269, collided with plastic posts during a landing overrun and came to rest inverted at the departure end of runway 33 at the Furnace Creek Airport, Death Valley, California. The aircraft, operated by Security Aviation and rented by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Hawthorne, California, airport the day of the accident, with intermediate stops in Jean, Nevada, and three stops in California; Shoshone airport, Stovepipe Wells, and Furnace Creek. The flight's ultimate destination was a return back to the Hawthorne airport. The pilot reported the accident to the Safety Board on March 1, 1999. In an interview, the pilot stated that he and his passenger had landed at three other airports without difficulty. The pilot reported that the weather conditions were clear sky, calm winds, and an approximate temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot reported that he overflew the airport to check the windsock and runway. He stated that he saw what appeared to be a "piece of old runway pavement at the north end of [runway] 33," and thought it was an overrun area. The pilot reported that no problems were encountered during the approach. He did note that on the landing he "was a bit long when I flared." The pilot reported that the aircraft seemed to float more than usual down the runway, and that without visual references, he allowed himself to accept an excessively long float before touchdown. After touchdown, on the 3,065-foot-long runway, he observed that there was not enough runway left to stop or attempt a go-around. He applied brakes and skidded on the runway, but was unable to stop. The aircraft struck plastic posts at the end of the runway and nosed over in the soft dirt. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99269](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99269-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 17276426, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276426 - Airframe hours: 8429 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: M & S Air Supply Inc., doing business as Security Aviation - Registered owner: Walter Whiteman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 13, 1999, 89 hours before - Departed: L09, DEATH VALLEY, CA - Destination: L06 - Airport: L06, Furnace Creek, runway 33, 3,065 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 394 total, 382 in this make and model, 294 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990226013409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990226013409A), Feb 26, 1999: Cessna 172P, Death Valley, CA, Substantial damage. The aircraft overshot the runway, came to rest in soft sand and flipped over. Aircraft removed from scene prior to arrival of investigation. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.